Ensure that the /etc/docker directory ownership is set to root:root
Scanned 9/3/2026
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---
name: cis-docker-3.5
description: "Ensure that the /etc/docker directory ownership is set to root:root"
category: cis-docker
version: "1.8.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, docker, linux, containers, daemon-files, file-permissions, ownership]
cis_id: "3.5"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Docker Benchmark v1.8.0"
tech_stack: [linux, docker]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# Ensure that the /etc/docker directory ownership is set to root:root (Automated)
## Profile Applicability
- Level 1 - Docker - Linux
## Description
You should verify that the `/etc/docker` directory ownership and group ownership is correctly set to `root`.
## Rationale
The `/etc/docker` directory contains certificates and keys in addition to various other sensitive files. It should therefore be individual owned and group owned by `root` in order to ensure that it can not be modified by less privileged users.
## Impact
None.
## Audit Procedure
You should execute the command below to verify that the directory is owned and group owned by `root`:
```bash
stat -c %U:%G /etc/docker | grep -v root:root
```
This command should not return any data.
## Remediation
To resolve this issue you should run the following command:
```bash
chown root:root /etc/docker
```
This sets the ownership and group ownership for the directory to `root`.
## Default Value
By default, the ownership and group ownership for this directory is correctly set to `root`.
## References
1. https://docs.docker.com/engine/security/https/
## CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8 | 5.4 Restrict Administrator Privileges to Dedicated Administrator Accounts - Restrict administrator privileges to dedicated administrator accounts on enterprise assets. Conduct general computing activities, such as internet browsing, email, and productivity suite use, from the user's primary, non-privileged account. | ● | ● | ● |
| v7 | 4 Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges - Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges | | | |
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